Lutepo hands himself to Malawi police: Pika Manondo is next

Businessman Osward Lutepo, who left Malawi at a time his name featured prominently in the Cashgate scandal, has jetted back in the country on Wednesday and went to National Police headquarters in Area 30, Lilongwe accompanied by his lawyer, Jai Banda to had himself in, Nyasa Times can reveal.

Lutepo, 35, has been strongly alleged to be part of syndicates that have been gluttonously siphoning billions from government coffers.

He had been listed in International Police (Interpol) website as one of the suspects wanted in the current case of looting of public funds at Capital Hill whereas Pika Manondo is listed on Interpol website as one of the suspects in the shooting of Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo.

Police deputy national spokesman Kelvin Maigwa confirned Lutepo has handed himself in and is currently “under arrest”.

Lutepo: Hands himself in

Maigwa said the Police will “interrogate “ Lutepo.

Lutepo’s firm, International Procurement Services is suspected to have been a conduit in defrauding the government.

The Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) also arrested two officers at the Office of the President and Cabinet for allegedly issuing a payment of over a billion to Lutepo’s company, which did not have any contract with the government, according to ACB.

Last week in an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times , Lutepo – who is the ruling People’s Party (PP) deputy director of recruitment and sensitisation -said he was not on the run and promised to return home.

Meanwhile, Manondo has also disclosed that he will be coming back home this weekend to hand himself over to police who are looking for him on attempted murder allegations.

Speaking with Nyasa Times on Wednesday from an undisclosed location, Manondo said he has “ a lot to talk about” on the looting at Capital Hill and about the shooting of Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo on September 13 2013.

Malawi Police Service have already arrested Manondo’s brother, Duka Manondo and other three people in connection with Mphwiyo’s shooting. The three are McDonald Kumwembe, Robert Kadzuwa and Charles Chalonda.